International travel editor shares packing tips

For the vast majority of people, the thought of being paid to travel the world, and writing about your experiences along the way seems an unattainable dream.

But for one Australian journalist, this is her reality.

Sophie Miura, a senior editor based in New York City, works as a full time travel and lifestyle writer with MyDomaine.

Speaking to Daily Mail, Miura shared her insider knowledge on everything from packing to tackling jet lag, the highs and lows of globetrotting for a living and the day-to-day reality of life as an international travel writer.

"I’ve learned to make airports and planes feel like home and have got packing down to a tee", Miura told Daily Mail.

"When I’m away, it’s very much a business trip rather than vacation. I’m always on the go, whether it be interviewing locals, picture editing or trying to file a story late at night".

Miura’s travels, both personal and professional, have taken her to far flung corners of the earth including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lapland, St Kitts and Nevis, Denmark and Kyoto, Japan.

Miura recounts her most memorable assignment she has ever worked on, during her time in Bora Bora, Tahiti. "
Growing up in Australia I was spoiled with incredible white sand beaches, but nothing could prepare me for Bora Bora. It’s absolute paradise".

Sophie Miura in Bora Bora. Picture: Sophie Miura/Instagram

When asked about her insider hacks she has learned from her hectic travel schedule, Miura shared the secret to perfect packing, falling asleep on noisy flights and tackling debilitating jet lag.

"I’ve got packing down to a fine art now! I stash breakables inside shoes for extra padding, cover sneakers with plastic hotel shower caps to keep the dirty soles from touching clothes, and if there’s space I bring a hair straightener which can be used to iron out wrinkled clothes".

"I’ve also used packing cubes for the last five years. I sort tees and tops in one cube, skirts, pants, and dresses in another, and underwear and socks in the third.
It means that my luggage is always organised and I can easily re-pack them if I do back-to-back trips!", Miura added.

Miura also mentions three items that she never leaves without:

1. Kathmandu Packing Cubes [Travel Vac Bag, R120 - Takealot.com] – "I’ve had the same set of Kathmandu packing cubes for 5+ years and take them everywhere with me".

2. Bang & Olufsen Play Headphones [R4999 - Takealot.com] – "My boyfriend gave me these headphones for my birthday and I take them on every flight. I never leave the airport without my headphones".

Some of Miura's travel tips include wearing ear plugs under her noise-cancelling earphones when on flights and changing the time zones on her phone. "I wear ear plugs underneath the headphones, then play storm sounds on the Rain app to drown out engine noise so I can fall asleep on long haul flights".

"I change my phone clock to match my destination as soon as I board a plane, then try to make sure my routine is in-sync with that time [zone]".

While Miura has conceded that she is living her dream through her work, she revealed that travel writing is not all glamour and excitement – it also involves a lot of hard graft and sacrifice.

"There’s no doubt that it’s an incredible career – I really do have to pinch myself that I’m allowed to travel the world for work".